Comments on: Five Dead After 767 Crashes in Miami

By: wilson

wilson — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 17:20:11 +0000

You are incorrect.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 01:35:58 +0000

In reply to wilson.

FedEx isn’t ONLY an airline, but it runs one. It owns and deploys a fleet of jets, piloted and maintained by its own employees, on fixed schedules on routes around the world.

That’s an airline no matter how you cut it.

Ditto for UPS.

When I worked (four years) at one of those DHL contractors I referenced, any thought that we didn’t fly for an “airline” would’ve been laughable. Of course we did. Indeed, our company was called “DHL Airways.”

By: chandelle

chandelle — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 03:28:36 +0000

The DC8 allowed the thrust reversers to be depoloyed whilst airborne at any altitude. The 738 too allows its deployment but only when the radalt registers 25′ or less. If you ask me, that feature should be made mandatory on all aircraft, regardless of how rarely it gets used in practice. With the sort of tailwinds the crew had, they possibly could’ve better managed the situation. The minute I read that they’d gone off the far end of the runway at 200+ kph, I knew the pilots would be – and correctly – cashiered, and that might well happen. The CVR transcripts seem to confirm that the PIC was the PF but despite the difference in seniority, the PM should’ve usurped control once he sensed that it was all too hot and risky, said “my aircraft, mate” and gone around. The FO might still be exonerated but he was a wimp, IMO

By: wilson

wilson — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 20:41:41 +0000

If one goes to sec dot gov and does a company search for FedEx (or UPS) one will discover that FedEx does not register itself as an airline. It is recorded and licensed as an air courier service and apparently the SEC is okay with that. Next go to sec dot gov and do a company search for Jet Blue and discover that Jet Blue is registered and licensed as Air Transportation, Scheduled. Apparently, SEC is okay with that.

In other words, the two creatures are considered similar yet, distinctly different. Like bagels are not doughnuts, roaches are not ants, grocery stores are not convenience stores, up is not down. I know darn well that obstinate people will have difficulty with this.

I know! Let’s try this! Call FedEx and inform the nice CSR that you want to book a flight from, say Dallas to Miami for yourself and entourage of no more than four souls. Listen carefully to the nice CSR’s response as it will likely go something like this, ” I am sorry, we are not an airline. You would have to contact an airline for that. Is there anything else I can I can help you with today?”

And have a nice day!

By: Chris H.

Chris H. — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 16:18:34 +0000

To add to the go-around question below, I’ve experienced one during all of my travels.

We were trying to land at Washington National, and I guess the winds shifted during final, because we just got blown down the runway. The pilots throttled up and we went around in a big circle and got back in line. This process was in the 20-ish minute range.

However, during that time National closed due to the weird winds shifting around and we went into some sort of holding pattern.. My flight eventually headed to Norfolk and landed there for more fuel. And then finally National reopened and we flew from Norfolk back to National.

I don’t remember the exact year, but it was during the era when planes had phones in all the headrests, because I had to use one to tell my parents in DC that I was going to be pretty late. If I remember correctly, it was about 18 dollars for a three minute call.

The go-around was certainly exciting, but at not point did I feel unsafe. I did feel irriated with the delays, however.

By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:39:44 +0000

Replying to Chris Hesler’s question about how much time a go-around adds to a flight – I think the right/proper answer is that it depends on how much other air traffic is around; ATC will provide the plane with directions to get them back into the landing traffic pattern. I imagine that if aircraft spacing were an issue, the plane would be directed into a holding pattern until ATC can slip them back into the landing pattern.

I was fortunate to witness a go-around while planespotting at MSP in the past month – the plane taking off ahead of the arriving flight took a bit too long to begin their take-off roll. That go-around added about 15 minutes to the arriving flight. I should note that this wasn’t during a particularly busy time at MSP, and according to the plane’s flight track, they pretty much rejoined the landing pattern immediately.

By: wilson

wilson — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:36:47 +0000

Looks like a struggle between confirmation bias and the reality of the situation. Solved.

By: Gimlet Winglet

Gimlet Winglet — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 03:11:21 +0000

Oy vey, it looks like they did (briefly) attempt a go-around, per NTSB summary of the flight data recorder. Already half-way or more down runway released brakes and applied go-around thrust, 4 seconds later changed their minds and tried to ride it out. Talk about being behind the plane; unstable below 1000 feet AGL should be automatic initiation of go-around.

NTSB says pilots will be interviewed tomorrow and also CVR transcript will be made available.

By: PosReport

PosReport — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:41:00 +0000

Hey Len, Like Patrick (myself) Capt Steeeve has decades of airline training, you have to respect that.
One thing was clear to us a go around needed to be executed prior or after touchdown. Extremely fast on approach was just part of it. This Capt certainly saw how far behind the aircraft they were. 5 airport workers died a terrifying death.
Patrick is always insightful and prudent. He is likely as disturbed by this unbelievable chain of events. I look forward to his remarks.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 22:10:09 +0000

Patrick, to avoid confusion you should have elaborated that “FedEx and UPS … own and operate cargo airlines that own their aircraft, and are flown by employee flight crews.”